The equilibrium properties of polymers end-grafted to an impenetrable interface, the "polymer brush", are investigated. Relevant concepts and techniques of statistical polymer physics are discussed; in particular, a simulation technique that is very efficient for studying polymer brushes is introduced. This technique is demonstrated through simulations of a well characterized polymer brush system. The results of original investigations of phase separation in polymer brushes are also presented. An instability in the lateral monomer density of a polymer brush is observed under sufficiently poor solvent conditions. The onset of this instability is found to agree with a previous prediction. A compositional instability is found in the lateral densities of a two-component polymer brush under conditions of sufficient immiscibility between the two components. The effects of varying solvent conditions are considered. Finally, the onset of the compositional instability is determined using the technique of the self consistent mean field, and the results compared to simulation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.40445 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Soga, K. Geoffrey (Kenneth Geoffrey) |
| Contributors | Zuckermann, Martin J. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Physics.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001538183, proquestno: NN19774, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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